Qantas declined to comment to media, but sources told The Sydney Morning Herald that Harry and Meghan were in good spirits during the journey, and were “excited about coming to Australia”.

It is believed the pair flew in one of the A380’s 14 first-class suites.

Meghan and Harry eventually emerged from the airport via a VIP back door about 7.40am, in a brief appearance before they were hustled off in a police motorcade.

The prince, 34, who has been a regular visitor to Australia since his 2003 gap year here, didn’t stand on ceremony. He dumped his shoulder bag into the boot of a white Holden sedan and slammed it shut himself.

Meghan, who flashed a smile at media before ducking into the official car, was in her new favourite head-to-toe black: polo neck, coat with burgundy lapels and skinny pants.

But it was her most prominent accessory – a couple of big purple plastic folders – and not her casual travel wardrobe that sparked comment.

Larry Emdur, co-host of Seven’s The Morning Show, posted a question to Instagram about why the duchess would be carrying the chunky stationery items for her first-ever appearance on Australian soil, instead of handing them off to a flunkey.

“I don’t want to start any trouble but can someone give me one, just one, reason Meghan would even carry a folder, let alone carry it like that?” asked Emdur.

Social media users jumped on the bandwagon, asking if the TV host was repeating rumours – fuelled by the wearing of coats and peplum tops – that the duchess, 37, is pregnant five months after her wedding.

Rebecca Gibney, star of Seven drama Wanted, was blunt: “Preggers”, she wrote, with an emoji of an expectant mother.

Singer Tina Arena liked Gibney’s work: “Ah big time.”

Others were more circumspect. “She thinks she’s still on the set of Suits going to court,” wrote one. Others speculated Meghan was boning up on the flight on Australian customs and people she’ll be meeting.

The folders were big enough news for People magazine to note about Meghan that “the 20-plus-hour plane ride from London would have provided her plenty of time to brush up on the tasks ahead.”

Thanks to their motorcade clearing roads, the royal pair dodged all rush hour traffic en route to Kirribilli, where they were greeted by a small crowd and hard rubbish dumped on nature strips for a council collection.

The duke and duchess have an entourage of 10: Private secretaries Samantha Cohen and Amy Pickerill, three communications staffers, a program co-ordinator, a digital journalist, an orderly, a hairdresser and a personal assistant.

Meghan, it has been noted, is travelling without a makeup artist.

The royals are expected to mooch about Admiralty House for the day, resting after their trip before their first full day of engagements on Tuesday.

They will be officially welcomed by Governor-General Sir Peter Cosgrove before visiting Taronga Zoo and the Sydney Opera House.

They have 76 engagements across 16 days in Australia, Fiji, Tonga and New Zealand. The tour coincides with Harry’s passion project, the Invictus Games, which run in Sydney from October 20-27.